Energy and Resources Group Master's Degree Requirements

Energy and Resources Group
Master’s Degree Requirements
The purpose of the ERG Master’s program is to educate the next generation of interdisciplinary
leaders. Specifically, students are taught the range of methods and subjects they should be able
to understand, advance, and critique to address critical issues stemming from the interaction of
humans and the environment. To that end, the requirements for the ERG Master’s degree are
both broad and deep, stressing analytic, methodological, theoretical, and practical approaches to
problems in energy, resources, and the environment. The course requirements provide for a
substantive introduction to the disciplinary approaches that are employed in studying energy and
resource issues. The requirements also ensure experience in interdisciplinary analysis applied to
a key resource concern. The curriculum provides an opportunity — through a topical cluster and
an independent project — to extend and deepen the areas of investigation and understanding to
satisfy the intellectual interests of each student. The curriculum is intended to serve those
students for whom the Master’s degree will be the final formal education in support of a
professional career and also those students who intend to continue their education, for example
by pursuing a PhD in Energy and Resources.
To obtain a Master’s degree from ERG, each student must meet the following requirements:
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Complete a minimum of 40 post-baccalaureate units.
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Complete a minimum of 18 units of graduate-level study in energy and resources, some
of which can be fulfilled by courses from other departments and schools. The following
elements must be included:
o ER 201 — Interdisciplinary Analysis in Energy and Resources (4 units)
o ER 292C/292D — Master’s Seminar (2 2 units)
o ER 295 — ERG Colloquium (2 1 unit) (Two semesters are required to ensure
exposure to a broad array of topics and approaches.)
o ER 299 — Master’s Project (2 units count towards the graduate-unit requirement)
o Six additional units of approved graduate-level courses
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Complete one course from each of the areas A-E listed below.
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Complete a Master’s project. The Master’s project entails two semesters of participation
in the ERG Master’s seminar, ER 292C/292D (4 units), plus undertaking an independent
investigation that culminates in an oral presentation before the ERG community and a
written report approved by two faculty readers (ER 299, 2 units).
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Complete a cluster of three courses (minimum of 9 units) in a subject area defined by the
student and approved by his/her advisor. This cluster is designed to ensure depth of study
in a topic within the domain of Energy and Resources. At least one of these courses (3
units) must be a graduate-level course. Suitable areas include (but are not limited to)
climate change, energy, water, environmental justice, and development. The cluster may
include one of the courses used to satisfy the area A-E requirement, and cluster courses
can fulfill the requirement of 18 units of graduate-level study in energy and resources.
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The following limits and restrictions apply on credit toward the 40-unit requirement:
o A maximum of 4 units of credit can be granted for 299 units (individual research)
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ERG Master’s Degree Requirements
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o The following courses do not count toward the 40-unit Master’s coursework
requirement: 298 (group study) and 301 (GSI practicum).
All courses that are used to satisfy degree requirements must be taken for a letter grade if that
option is available. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (“B”) in all courses completed must be achieved.
To ensure effective early planning and consultation, ERG Master’s students are expected to
submit a completed “Proposed Course of Study” form by the last day of class in their first
semester. This form will indicate the courses that the student intends to take to meet the
requirements given above. It will be completed by the student in consultation with the process
advisor, and is reviewed by the entire ERG Core faculty, who will provide feedback early in the
student’s second semester. Of course, a student’s interests may change, so the proposed course of
study can change as well. At the end of the third semester, students are expected to submit a
revised course of study, plus their proposed Master’s Project title and abstract to the ERG Core
faculty, who will provide feedback. The student’s process advisor must approve a final Course of
Study early in the student’s final semester to meet the requirements for graduation.
The ERG Master’s program can lead to either an MA or MS degree in Energy and Resources. In
consultation with the advisor, each student makes a request of the MA or MS degree based on
the substantive content of coursework and Master’s project. Each student, with the cooperation
of his or her first faculty reader and also the instructor(s) of the Master’s seminar, will prepare a
proposed project title and abstract for the Master’s project by the end of the student’s third
semester. The ERG core faculty as a whole makes a final determination of the appropriateness of
the MA/MS selection based on the student’s Course of Study and proposed title and abstract for
the Master’s Project.
Area (A-E) requirement
Teaching and research in the Energy and Resources Group draws heavily on four academic
traditions, as they are applied to the interactions of societies with resources and the natural
environment:
Environmental science
Resource and environmental economics
Social science approaches to energy, resources and the environment
Engineering approaches to energy, resources and the environment
The ERG Master’s curriculum ensures that each student is well acquainted with each of these
academic spheres and also experiences how distinct approaches from these intellectual traditions
are brought to bear in interdisciplinary resource analysis. Consequently, one of the cornerstone
requirements of the ERG Master’s curriculum is the A-E requirement. Students must complete
at least one course in each of the A-E topics.
Alternate courses to those listed are allowed in Areas B-E with permission of the designated
responsible faculty, but the alternate course must meet the intent and prerequisites of the area
requirement. Attributes that would normally be considered minimum requirements for an
alternative course to be acceptable are these: 3+ units, lecture or laboratory-based instruction
(i.e., no seminar courses) with substantive intellectual content and topical relevance to the
domain of ERG.
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ERG Master’s Degree Requirements

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Students who have already taken a course similar to those listed in one of the areas are required
to take an alternative course in the same area, preferably more advanced, subject to the approval
of the designated responsible faculty. A student who has demonstrated a high level of mastery in
a given area based on previous academic work may petition the responsible faculty to waive the
need to complete a course in that area. For example, a high level of mastery in resource and
environmental economics could be demonstrated by completion of an undergraduate degree in
economics that included multiple courses in resource economics. In this case, a student could
petition to have waived the requirement of completing an additional course in Area C.
A. Interdisciplinary Energy and Resource Analysis
• ER 200N – Energy and Society [Kammen, fall] (Prerequisites for ER 200N: at least one
course in college physics or chemistry)
• ER 275 – Water and Development [Ray, fall] (Prerequisite for ER 275: at least one
college level development-focused or water-focused course)
The purpose of these courses is to provide the interested entering graduate student sufficient
background in the physical and social constructions of the relevant systems to enable them to
understand key issues and to begin to conduct research in that area. This course should be taken
during the first semester of Master’s study, concurrently with ER 201.
B. Environmental Science
• ER 102 – Environmental Problem Solving [Harte, spring]
The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary concepts and analytical tools in
environmental science expected of all ERG graduates.
Note: The prerequisites for this course are calculus (Math 1A-1B or 16A-16B), physics (7A-7B
or 8A-8B), chemistry (1A or 4A), biology (1B or 11), or consent of instructor.
Responsible Faculty: Harte
C. Resource and Environmental Economics
The following courses meet this requirement:
• ERG C180 / EEP C180 – Ecological Economics in Historical Context [Norgaard; spring]
• ERG 280 – Energy Economics [Norgaard; spring]
• EEP C101 / Econ C125 – Environmental Economics [spring]
• EEP C102 / Econ C102 – Natural Resource Economics [fall]
• EEP C151 / Econ C171 – International Economic Development [fall]
• EEP 162 – Economics of Water Resources [spring]
• MBA 212 — Energy and Environmental Markets [fall, spring]
The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary concepts and analytical tools in economics
expected of all ERG graduates. These courses all have intermediate microeconomics (Econ 100A
or 101A, or EEP 100) as a prerequisite, as well as at least one semester of calculus.
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Responsible Faculty: Norgaard
D. Social Science Approaches to Energy, Resources and the Environment
The following courses meet this requirement:
• ER 273 – Research Methods in Social Sciences [Ray, spring]
• ER 151 – Politics of Energy and Environmental Policy [staff, fall]
• ESPM 155 – Sociology of Natural Resources [Fortmann, fall]
• ESPM 161 – Environmental Philosophy and Ethics [Merchant, fall]
• ESPM 168 – Political Ecology [Peluso, spring]
• ESPM 169 – International Environmental Politics [O'Neill, fall]
• CRP 254 – Sustainable Communities [Duane]
The purpose of this course is to ground ERG students in a broad range of the methods, theories
and policies that underpin the diverse social sciences, through methodological, political,
sociological or philosophical approaches to natural resources and the environment. Reading
seminars are not allowed, even if they are graduate-level courses, unless the student has already
taken an upper division course in e.g. environmental politics, and is seeking to fulfill this area
requirement through an advanced seminar on the same theme.
Note: These courses generally have as prerequisites undergraduate level courses in geography,
sociology, anthropology or political science.
Responsible Faculty: Ray
E. Engineering Approaches to Energy, Resources and the Environment
The following courses meet this requirement:
• ER C226/MSE C226 – Photovoltaic Materials [Kammen and Haller, fall alternate years]
• CE 103 – Introduction to Hydrology (staff, fall)
• CE 111 – Environmental Engineering (Nazaroff, Alvarez-Cohen, fall & spring)
• CE 218A – Air Quality Engineering (Harley, Nazaroff, fall)
• CE 268E – Civil Systems and the Environment (Horvath, spring)
• ME C105B / BioE C105B – Thermodynamics and Biothermodynamics (Carey, F, S)
The purpose of this course is to provide all ERG students with exposure to and experience with
the problem-solving, design-oriented approach of relevant engineering disciplines. Other courses
may be allowed by petition, but must have substantive engineering content and topical relevance
to the domain of ERG, and must be offered in the College of Engineering or in the Department
of Chemical Engineering.
Note: These courses will have various prerequisites.
Responsible Faculty: Kammen
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ERG Master’s Degree Requirements
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Sample Program of Study
(Note: The minimum enrollment requirement for all graduate students who
are not yet advanced to doctoral candidacy is 12 units per semester, regardless of their
employment status.)
1st Semester (Fall)
ER 200N (4) or ER 275 (3) — Area A requirement
ER 201 (4) — Interdisciplinary Analysis in Energy and Resources
Elective C-E — satisfy one of the Area C-E requirements
Total units: 11-12; students should consider a seminar if needed to reach the 12 unit minimum
Early December – submit proposed Course of Study
2nd Semester (Spring)
ER 102 (4) — Area B requirement
ER 292C (2) – Master’s seminar
ER 295 (1) — ERG colloquium
Elective Cluster — Cluster course no. 1
Total units: 10-11; students should consider enrolling in one additional elective course
Receive feedback on Course of Study
3rd Semester (Fall)
ER 292D (2) – Master’s seminar
ER 295 (1) — ERG colloquium
Elective Cluster — Cluster course no. 2
Elective C-E — satisfy one of the Area C-E requirements
Total units: 9-11; students should enroll in one additional elective course
Early December – submit updated Course of Study and Title/Abstract for Master’s Project
4th Semester (Spring)
ER 299 or XX 299 (2) — Master’s Project (register with first reader)
Elective Cluster — Cluster course no. 3
Elective C-E — satisfy one of the Area C-E requirements
Total units: 8-10; students should enroll in one additional elective course
Receive feedback and approval of Course of Study and Title/Abstract for Master’s Project
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ERG Master’s Degree Requirements
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Energy and Resources Group
Master’s Program Course of Study
(Note: This form is to be filled out, signed, and given to the Masters Advisor by the last
day of classes each fall semester.)
Name:_________________________________________Date:___________________
Fall – Year 1
Spring – Year 1
Fall – Year 2
Spring – Year 2
Course used to fulfill the Area A-E requirements:
A. Interdisciplinary Resource Analysis:_______________________________________
B. Environmental Science:_________________________________________________
C. Resource and Environmental Economics:___________________________________
D. Social Science Approaches:______________________________________________
E. Engineering Approaches:________________________________________________
Three-course sequence used to fulfill the cluster requirement:
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
Additional courses used to fulfill the requirement for 18 graduate units in the major subject
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
Academic Advisor Signature:___________________________________Date:__________
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